Fluid seal



Feb. s, 1940. R STEVENSON 2,189,6@5v

FLUID SEAL Filed April 6, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb- 5 1940- 'R. sTvENsoN '2,189,635

FLUID SEAL v Filed April 6, 1957 4 Sheets-@Sheet 2` Feb. 6, 1940. R. sTEvENsYoN 2,189,685

' FLUID SEAL y v Filed April e, 1957 "4 sheets-sheet :s`

Feb. 6,

R. sTEvl-:NsON

FLUID SEAL Filed April 6, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 40 throughout its Patented Feb. s, 1940` PATENT OFFICE.

2,189,685 FLnIDsEAL Robert sievensomwest Barrington, n. I., :ts-

signor to Sealol Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 6, 1937, Serial No. 135,300

Claims. (Cl. 28e- 7) My invention relates to improvements in oil or fluid seals, and `particularly to that typelof seal adapted for use with parts designed for relative rotation, as with a shaft and housing 5 construction. f y

An object of my invention is to provide a seal for this purpose with a minimum number of simple parts, which is at all times positive in its action. A further object of my invention is to provide .a seal which may be sold either as a selfcontained unit ready for easy attachment in a desired position, or4 as a group of parts ready to assemble in a desired position, providing a seal 16 in either case which may be readily disassembled for replacement of parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a unitary combination oil seal and anti-fricti0n bearing, which may be sold as a self-contained unit, and be readily attached to a shaft and housing construction, as by insertion between radially-spaced concentric surfaces thereof; or `which may be sold as a group of parts ready for attachment thereto. Itis furtheran object of my invention to provide such a unitary combination oil seal and anti-friction bearing, which substantially eliminates lateral or axial sway in the bearing, or to provide anoil seal which, when assembled for use with an anti-friction bearing,

- performs the same function.

Heretofore, oil seals have been provided, in which there has been a radial flange having a bearing surface and some means for forcing a sealing ring or washer axially against the bearing surface, the means usually comprising'a spring or springs. Such springs, however, have not proved ventirely satisfactory `for this purpose, for the reason that they will not force the sealing surface evenly against the bearing surface circumference. In addition, springs are expensive, easily wear 4out or get out of order, and are relatively hard to replace.

MyA invention, in one aspect, includes an axially expansible seal in which the axially expansible means is a solid, fluid imperviousy ring which -is either compressed in the unit assold, or may be compressed in the act of assembly with parts designed for relative rotation. As compressed, the resilient properties of the ring maintain a positive seal over a long period of time, providing a seal` with small friction and long wearing properties.

In other aspects, my invention includes an 55 axially expansible seal of simple construction,

either alone or in combination with an antifriction bearing.

'Ihese and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying 5 drawings, in which Fig.,1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through a housing and shaft construction showing an embodiment of my invention in section. comprising a unitaryl anti-friction bearing and l0 oil seal unit, the shaft being shownI in elevation;

Fig.v 2 is a face View of the oil seal unit shown invFig. l with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a disassembled sectional view of the various parts of the oil seal of Figs. 1 and 2; 1 6

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing two of the' parts of Fig. 3 in mounted I relation; y

Fig. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention; 20

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a further modied form of my invention,v generally similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts reversed, and with a separate friction bearingv for the shaft;

Fig. v'7 is a sectional view showing a further v25 modified form of an oil seal unit;

Fig. 8 isa longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of the unitary anti-friction bearing and oil seal unit shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a face View of the oil seal unit shown 30 in Fig. 8; y

Fig. 10 is a disassembled sectional view of the parts of the oil seal unit shown in Figs. 8 -and 9;

Fig. 1l is a sectional View of a modified form of the oil seal shown in Fig-8; 3

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modied form l of oil seal shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. l2;

Fig. lll is a longitudinal sectional view of a o modified form of the device shown in Fig. 12, with a'n ordinary friction bearing for the shaft;

Fig. 15 is a disassembled sectional view of the parts of the oil seal as shown in Fig. 14; and A Fig. 16 is a further modified form of my device. 45

Referring to the drawings, wherein like referance characters indicate like parts throughout,

Ill generally indicates` an oil seal constructed in accordance with my invention for use between a. shaft Il and a housing l5. My invention may be used either with a shaft revolving within the housing, or with a housing revolving about the shaft, as for instance, the hub of an automobile wheel upon its axle shaft.

As' shown in Fig. 1, my oil seal I0 may be u l four elements.

mounted between concentric radially-spaced sur-l faces of anti-friction bearing members, such as outer and inner raceway rings 58 and 58. For this purpose, outer ends of these raceways may be provided with a counterbore 82 and an annular reduced portion 64 respectively. 'I'he other ends of raceways 58 and 58 are provided with roller bearings such as balls 68 interposed between the raceways in channels 88, according to the usual construction.

In my preferred form, my oil seal comprises Rigidly seated in the reduced portion 84 of the inner raceway 58 is the annular part 8, as shown in Fig. 3, having a collar portion 48 adapted to engage with a press fit the reduced surface 84, and having an annular flange I2 projecting radially therefrom, having on one side thereof a bearing surface I4 which may be ground, polished, or otherwise finished. To provide a more accurate nt, the collar portion may be extended slightly beyond flange I2, as shown.

Rigidly mounted on the 'outer raceway 58 for rotation therewith relative to the inner raceway .58 and flanged element 8 is an assembly including a sealing ring I8, a compressible oil or fluid impervious ring 28 and a mounting member` 28, all as shown in Fig. 3.

The sealing ring I8 has on one side thereof a reduced portion, preferably tapered, to form a comparatively narrow flat metal surface I 8. which is preferably ground, polished, or otherwise finished, and is adapted in use to circumferentially bear against the surface I4 of the flange I2 to provide a positive oil seal at all times. As shown, the sealing ring is of a substantial width axially to provide adequate wear allowance.

As shown in Fig. l, the sealing ring I8 is, in this form of my invention, mounted for axial movement within a recess 38 of the member 25. This member 28 lcomprises an annular, cupshaped member having a side wall 28, adapted to be driven with a press flt into counterbore 82 of outer raceway 58, so that, preferably, member .28 is flush with the outer end of the raceway, and

a radial wall 32 `and an inner axial wall 34, the three walls forming the recess 38 which faces the flange I2. The wall 32 is of such radial width that the' axial wall 34 will in use have radial clearance with the collar 48 and wall 34 also has axial clearance withthe flangel I2. As shown in Fig. 1, the flange I2 has adequate clearance with the wall 28.

To continuously force the bearing surface I8 of the sealing ring I8 against the bearing surface I4 of the flange I2, I interpose between the surface 8 (Fig. 3) of sealing ring I8 and the radial wall 32 resilient means comprising, in my preferred form, an oil or fluid impervious compressible ring 28, constructed of cork, rubber, fabric, plastic, or any other suitable compressible, resilient composition, preferably one which is vulcanizable. Among others, there are such Vcompositions as those marketed under the names of TDuprene, Corprene, or 'I'hiocol."

-compressible ring 28 and member and 28 respectively of the mounting member 28. It will be understood that even after assembly of the oil seal in the counterbore 52 and reduced portion 54 of the raceways 58 and 58, the inherent tendency, of the ring 28 to expand continues to urge one of the aceways 58 or 58 in an axial direction relative to the other against the axially confining action of the balls 88 in the raceways. 'I'he oil seal I8, therefore, as utilized in Fig. l, tends to prevent.axial sway of the ball bearing resulting from too large clearance between the channels 88 and balls 88 (either initially present or developed in use through wear of the surfaces of the channnels 88 or of the balls 68 themselves) by riding the balls 88 up on axially opposed surfaces of the respective raceways.

As will be readily understood, the oil seal of Fig. 2, when mounted between the raceways of the ball bearing as so far described presents a unitary, precompressed, self-contained combination bail bearing and oil seal unit, the compression of the resilient ring 28 in this instance being maintained by the bearing. This unit may be readily mounted between concentric radiallyspaced surfaces of a housing I5 and shaft II, as shown in Fig. 1. In such use, the housing I5 may be conveniently supplied with a counterbore on its inner surface 22, into which counterbore the outer racew'ay 58 may be driven with a press fit. Similarly, the inner raceway 58 may be driven with a press flt onto a shaft il.

To insure that the sealing ring I8, compressed ring 28, and mounting member 28.shal1 rotate together to prevent frictional wear of ring 28, I preferably provide the sealing ring and mounting member 28 with interlocking means which may take the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprising a projection 18 on the sealing ring I8, radially received in a slot 'I2 formed in the wall 34 of the mounting member 28. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, it is preferable and especially desirable iny constructions designed for high speed work, to vulcanize or otherwise secure the compressible ring 28 in the mounting member 28. as indicated at 14. This insures against fluid leakage between member 28 and ring 28.

It will be obvious that my oil seal, comprising the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be assembled directly between concentric radiallyspaced surfaces of a housing I5 and a shaft I I. in such case the collar 48 may be given a driven press fit on the shaftl II, and the mounting member 28 may b`e securely fit within the bore I8 of the housing I5. In such case, the ring 28 would be compressed during the assembling of the shaft and housing.

As shown in Fig. 6, the oil seal parts may be f reversed, and the construction be such that the part 8 (collar 48, and flange I2), which is secured to rotate with the shaft in Fig. 1, may be suitably modifled for attachment to the housing or outer raceway; and the assembly which is secured to rotate with the housing (sealing ring I8, 28) in Fig. l, may be suitably modified for attachement to the shaft or inner raceway. It will be obvious that when the ball bearing is omitted, some means such as a thrust bearing must be provided to prevent relative axial movement, at least in one direction, between the shaft and housing. otherwise the compression of the ring 28 could not be maintained. The seal itself prevents relative axial movement of the shaft and housing in the 2,159,065 i ,f l 3" shaft and housing and a shoulder on the shaft II against which collar 48 abuts for accurate assemblage. f

In Flg. 5 I have shown a modification in which 8 the collar portion 48 is mounted on the'shaft II,

abutting against the inner raceway 58 of a ball bearing, the iiange I2 having axial clearance with the outer raceway 56 and radial clearance with the housing I5. The mounting member 26 l0 is constructed with a radial wall 32 which has a portion 42 extending radially beyond the bore of the housing I5, and, in assembling, the mounting member 26 may be attached to the housing as by means of bolts 46 passing through appro- 18 priate apertures formed in extension 42 and into appropriate threaded bores 48 formed in the housing I6. As thus fastened, the mounting member 26 holds the sealing ring -I6 against the bearing surface I4 'of the flange I2 through the 20 interposition of the compressed ring 28, which is confined in this case against outward radial 'expansion by the bore surface 22 functioning as the equivalent of wall 28 in Fig. 1. In this form also, appropriate interlocking means between the l 25 sealing ring and the mounting member 26, and

between the compressible ring 28 and mounting member 26, as previously described, may be provided, and when assembled the seal operates to eliminate axial sway in the ball bearing as with 30 the device shown in Fig. 1.

' In Fig. 7, my collar 481s mounted on shaft II, and the rest Bf the asembly is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that' the ball bearing has been omitted and a friction bearing 52 is provided between the housing I5 and shaft II, 24S in the form shown inFig. 6. In addition, Fig. 7 illustrates an oil seal which maybe partially or wholly precompressed prior to assembly with the shaft and housing, or, preferably, the four parts 8, I6, 28 and 26, may be merely held from separation. 'I'his may/be readily accomplishedby extending the wall 28 of member 26 to extend beyond the endsof flange I2, so that wall 28 may be spun over flange I2 or otherwise inturned as Il shown at 36. This operation can be performed either to place ring 28 under compression or preferably to merely hold the parts together until they are assembled with the shaft and housing, according to what extent ange I2 is inturned.

.\ In the preferred latter form, during assembly, whenA ring 28 is compressed by the interposition of a thrust bearing between the shaft and housing, as previously described in connectionwith Fig. 6, turned over end 36 will be moved away from flange I2, 'thus preventing any frictional contact,.which might be undesirable in many cases.

For convenience' of assembly, I have so far described the bearing surface I4 as being formed d0 upon a separate part 8, adapted to rotate with the shaft I I. However, as a modification of my invention, the bearing surface I4 may be provided either on a radial surface of a ball bearing raceway,- as on the inner raceway, as shown in Figs. 8 and 12, or may be provided on an integral shoulder of the shaft, as in Fig. 14. Obviously, such surface may be formed on the outer raceway or on the housing, if accompanied by proper modification of the other parts.

'I8 Fig. 8, therefore, illustrates a device similar to thatshown in Fig. 1 eliminating the separate iianged member 8, but providing its functional equivalent in a radial shoulder I2, provided on the inner raceway 58, which shoulder may be 7| properly finished to function as a bearing surface I4. The'sealing ring I6 is provided with a comparatively narrow fiat metal surface I8 to bear against the surface I4, and a radially exe tending portion 16 and an axially extending portion 18, having radial clearance with the inner I raceway. In a similarmanner to that shown in Fig. 1, the ring 28 is compressed between surface 9 of the radial wall 16 of the sealing ring I6, and the radial wall 32 of the mounting member 26. This ring is confined against `outward radial ex- 10 pansion by the wall 28 and against inward radial f expansion by the wall 18 of the ring I6, which functions as the equivalent of wall 34 in Figs. 1 and 5. As also shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, -interlocking means to insure mutual rotation or iixa- 18 tion of sealing ring I6 and mounting member 26 may be provided and may take the form of a slot 12' in axial wall 18 of sealing ring I6, into which a projection 18' on mounting member 26 extends radially. Also, vulcanization or its! 20 equivalent, as already described. may be provided between the compressible ring 28 and the mounting member 26. It will be understood that in the modification of Fig. 8, the oil seal operates, as in the`device ofl Fig. 1, to prevent axial sway de- 2l veloping in the ball bearing, and the device may be` manufactured, sold and mounted as a unitary combination oil seal and bearing, -just as the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification in which the 88' 16 of the sealing ring I6 and the radial wall 32,-

and the axially extending portion I8 is 'provided with radial clearance from the reduced portion 64 of the inner raceway 56. 46

The modification shown in Fig. 12 incorporates theI modification of Fig. 8 into the arrangement f shown in Fig. 5, so that the bearing surface'I8 of sealing ring I6 operates against a finished end of the inner raceway 58. In this modification, I have also shown the mounting member y26 with an axial wail 28 adapted to be secured to bore I3 of housing I5, as inv a counterbore 22, so that, just as in Figs. 1 and 8, the inner surface of this wall 28 acts to confine the ring 28 against out- 85 Ward radial expansion, instead of the inner surface 22 of the bore I3, as shown in Fig. 5, .and previously described. In this .modification of Fig. 12, the ring 28 is compressed during the assembling of the shaft and housing, but after assembly, operates as with the devices of Figs. l, 5 and 8 to'y eliminate axial sway in the ball bearings.

As shown in Figs. l2- and 13, an extension 92, either integral with or welded to wall 32 of the '05 mounting member 26, may be provided and may have suitable slots 84, so that a tool may be readily used for disassembling.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate another modification in -which the surface 24 of shaft II is provided '70 with a radial shoulder I2 having a bearing surface I4, properly finished and ground to form V a seal with the sealing ring I6.

An added modification shownin Fig. 14 is the interposition of an interlocking split ring 88 15 shaft II, as in grooves I2 and 84 thereof, respectively, to prevent separation of shaft II and ring Il prior to assembly .in the housing. In order, however, to allow axial movement of the sealing ring It relative to the shaft II, the groove 84 in the shaft `II is of a greater width than that of the split ring III, as shown.

Fig. 16 illustrates another form of my seal which may be formed as a unit before assembly with the shaft and housing, thereby compressing ring 20 prior to such assembly. As shown, a split interlocking ring 86 is inserted in grooves Il and Il formed in wall 34 and collar III respectively, and acts as a thrust bearing to prevent separation of the unit. An anti-friction ball or other type of thrust bearing may be employed if desired.

In all forms of my invention, I prefer to construct the devices so that the bearing surfaces I4 and I8 are of di'erent hardness for purposes well known in the art. Thus, in the'constructions illustrated in Figs. '1, 5, 6, 7 and 16, the entire part 8, including the collar portion 40' and flange I2, may be constructed of a `suitable soft metal such as bronze or brass, and the sealing ring may be made of steel.

However, in the constructions shown in Figs. 8, 1l, 12 and 14, the sealing ring itself may be made of the softer metal, as the raceway or shaft must be'of the harder metal. While I have thus described a construction wherein the cooperating bearing surfaces I4 and I8 are formed of metal, other compositions or substances having similar non-resilient properties and of comparable hardness may be used in forming either surface. Both in the specification and in the appended claims, therefore, the word metal is used with this broader connotation and is included merely to distinguish relatively soft compositions having wearing qualities inferior to metal, for example, leather, cork, and rubber.

Formation of the sealing ring I6 with the comparatively narrow flat surface I8 is desirable. There is a minimum of friction between the sealing surfaces and any differential of decrease in area between the bearing surface I8 and the opposite side 9 of the sealing ring will operate to provide a corresponding volumetric increase of pressure. f

T It is apparent that the bearing surfaces I4 and Il may be respectively carried by the shaft I I or by the housing I5; that the positions of the various parts of my improved oil seal assembly may be respectively reversed or inverted as in the various embodiments shown; that, as illustrated, various means may be employed to confine the ring 20 against radial expansion; and that, as illustrated, various means may be employed to retain the oil seal in operative compressed form or in precompressed, self-contained form, when that feature is desired, as the balls l0 themselves, the inturned flange 36, the split ring, other types of thrust bearing, or other suitable means. It is to be understood that these and further modifications may be made without departing from the -spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

My new oil seal is simple in construction, and functions to evenly, circumferentially 'force a sealing surface axially against a radially extending bearing surface to automatically provide a continuous and positive oil seal over a long period of time, and may, if desired, be used in combination with an anti-friction bearing, to continuously `between the axial wall 'Il of the ring I6 and the prevent any axial sway despite the developmentl of excessive clearance in the bearing raceways.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior copending application Serial No. 77,695, filed May 4, 1936.

What I claim is:

1. An oil seal for shaft and housing members comprising a radially disposed annular metal bearing surface associated with one of said members, and an annular assembly mounted for rotation relative to said bearing surface, said assembly including a ring having a metal oil seal bearing surface abutting said radially disposed bearing surface, a mounting member rigidly secured to said other member for confining said ring and having a radial wall axially spaced from a portion of said oil seal ring, andan oil impervious vulcanizable resilient ring vulcanized to said mounting member and compressed between said radial wall and said oil seal ring to force said oil seal bearing surface axially against said radial bearing surface.

2. An oil seal unit comprising concentric radially-spaced relatively rotatable annular members adapted for attachment to a shaft and a housing for the shaft respectively, one of said members being provided With an annular radial metal bearing surface, and an annular assembly mounted intermediate said concentric members for rotation relative to said bearing surface, sald assembly including a ring having a metal oil seal bearing surface abutting 'said radial bearing surface, a radial wall rigidly mounted on said other member and axially spaced from said oil seal ring, and solid, oil impervious, resilient means compressed between said radial wall and said oil seal ring to force said oil seal bearing surface axially against said radial bearing surface,

-and means for holding said concentric members against separation prior to attachment of said unit to said shaft and housing.

3. An oil seal unit for use between relatively rotatable shaft and housing members, comprising an element adapted to be rigidly attached to one of said members and having a radial bearing surface thereon, an axially movable sealing ring having a finished annular bearing surface, a solid, oil impervious, resilient, compressible ring adapted to be mounted on the other of said members with an axial surface radially confined thereby and with one end rigidly held relative thereto, and with an opposite end engaging said sealing ring to force said sealing ring bearing surface against said radial bearing surface, means adapted to conne the other axial surface of said compressible ring to retain it in radial compressed position by said other member, interlocking means to prevent relative rotation between said compressible ring and sealing ring, and means associated with said unit for maintaining said radial bearing surface, said sealing ring and said compressible ring against separation or in precompressed form prior to attachment of said unit to said shaft and housing members, whereby after attachment of said unit to said shaft and housing members said compressible ring may expansibly continuously force said sealing ring bearing surface axially against said radial bearing surface to function as an oil seal continuously as said bearing surfaces wear in use.

4. An oil seal for concentric radially-spaced surfaces on shaft and housing members comprising an annular finished bearing surface associated with one of said members and radially disposed intermediate said concentric surfaces, an

annular assembly mounted for rotation relative to said bearing surface, said assembly including a ring having a metal oil seal bearing surface abutting said radially disposed bearing surface, a

`radial wall rigidly mounted on the other member and axially spaced from said oil seal ring, concentric radially spaced walls extending axially between said ring and said radial wall to form anannular recess defined by said radial wall, said concentric walls and said oil seal ring, and solid, oil impervious, resilient means filling said recess and under compression between said radial wall, said concentric walls and said oil seal ring, to force said oil seal bearing surface axially against said radial bearing surface. v

5. An oil seal for concentric radially-spaced surfaces on shaft and housing members, comprising a collar affixed to one of said members having a flange projecting radially therefrom intermediate said concentric surfaces, said ange having an annular finished radially disposedv bearing surface, an annular assembly affixed to said other member for rotation relative to said bearing surface, said assembly including a ring having a metal oil seal bearing surface abutting said radially disposed bearing surface, a radial recess defined by said radial wall, said concentric`- s walls and said oil seal ring, and solid oil', impervious, resilient means lling said recess and under compressionwithin said recess between said radial wall, said concentric walls and said oil seal ring, the construction and arrangement being such that said resilient means is placed under compression against and confined between said concentric walls and said radial wall and said oil seal ring by the act of assemblyof said collar and/'said oll seal assembly between said concentric radially spaced surfaces on said shaft and housing members, with said concentric walls confining said solid resilient means against radial expansion to prevent leakage around the walls o1 said recess whereby said compressed 90 resilient means may only expand axially to force the oil seal bearing surface of said ring continuy ously axially against the radial bearing surface V of said collar to continuously function as an oil seal as said bearing surfaces wear in use.

c ROBERT B'I'EVENBON. 

